2008 Woodie Awards
Defense comes up big, offense struggles
Matt Watson
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Sports
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With three straight conference losses to start the year, having blown fourth-quarter leads in each of those games, the Razorbacks must be scratching their heads right now.
A mere 18 points is the difference between the Hogs being .500 right now instead of undefeated.
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt told his team that it's a brand new season now.
"We've done that since 1998, keeping the team inside this circle with one heartbeat, one family and playing the greatest game in the world-football-and have fun," Nutt said.
Nutt's squad will try to avoid losing Southeastern Conference games in consecutive weeks for the second time this season. Arkansas travels to Oxford, Miss., to play the only other team winless in the SEC, Ole Miss.
"Ole Miss [and Arkansas], we're very similar," Nutt said. "The truth of the matter is, we're both trying to get our first SEC victory. Both will be very hungry come Saturday."
The Rebels have lost five of their last six games, but played Florida (lost 30-24) and Alabama (lost 27-24) very tough in their two SEC games at home in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
The Hog defense, which has been criticized all year, especially after the Alabama and Kentucky games for not closing games, has played brilliantly in the last two weeks.
Auburn netted 290 yards of total offense and zero offensive touchdowns last week. The Razorbacks only yielded 172 total offensive yards to Tennessee-Chattanooga in Little Rock to go along with seven first downs.
"They [the defense] just kept doing what they're doing-chasing the football, being very sound-everybody's taking care of their gaps," Nutt said.
Safety Matt Hewitt recorded 14 tackles and recovered a fumble, and linebacker Freddie Fairchild had 13 total tackles and a sack. Fairchild was named the Hogwired.com defensive player of the week by the UA coaching staff.
"We had great preparation and guys worked hard, prepared well and knew it was going to be a battle," Nutt said. "We got off blocks. They couldn't hold their blocks against us a majority of the night."
A mere 18 points is the difference between the Hogs being .500 right now instead of undefeated.
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt told his team that it's a brand new season now.
"We've done that since 1998, keeping the team inside this circle with one heartbeat, one family and playing the greatest game in the world-football-and have fun," Nutt said.
Nutt's squad will try to avoid losing Southeastern Conference games in consecutive weeks for the second time this season. Arkansas travels to Oxford, Miss., to play the only other team winless in the SEC, Ole Miss.
"Ole Miss [and Arkansas], we're very similar," Nutt said. "The truth of the matter is, we're both trying to get our first SEC victory. Both will be very hungry come Saturday."
The Rebels have lost five of their last six games, but played Florida (lost 30-24) and Alabama (lost 27-24) very tough in their two SEC games at home in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
The Hog defense, which has been criticized all year, especially after the Alabama and Kentucky games for not closing games, has played brilliantly in the last two weeks.
Auburn netted 290 yards of total offense and zero offensive touchdowns last week. The Razorbacks only yielded 172 total offensive yards to Tennessee-Chattanooga in Little Rock to go along with seven first downs.
"They [the defense] just kept doing what they're doing-chasing the football, being very sound-everybody's taking care of their gaps," Nutt said.
Safety Matt Hewitt recorded 14 tackles and recovered a fumble, and linebacker Freddie Fairchild had 13 total tackles and a sack. Fairchild was named the Hogwired.com defensive player of the week by the UA coaching staff.
"We had great preparation and guys worked hard, prepared well and knew it was going to be a battle," Nutt said. "We got off blocks. They couldn't hold their blocks against us a majority of the night."
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